To those who have decided to peripherally monitor this train to see of it goes off the rails, I feel obligated to inform you that I am not a same time every day writer. It comes when it comes and the schedule allows. I would love to be a same time every day AM writer. Alas, there are days when I am a PM writer, and even late night writer. (In fact, that is most days) Happy Scribing. Image found here: http://hdwallpapersfactory.com/train/steam-trains-train-vehicles-desktop-hd-wallpaper-597486/

All Referenced Images At End Of Post

May 9-11 / Days 190–192 / 1547 Words

Okay, here goes, in and out like a ninja warrior. Not seen or heard, but known present by discovered actions.

1) If you haven’t noticed, because you totally ignore my end of post catch phrase about checking on calendar blurbs and progress meters, I have increased the goal setting of this novel from 100k to 110k. However, I fully anticipate chopping a bunch in the rewrite, so I am confident the final tally will be under that 100k benchmark. The only reason Book 2 usurped 100k, coming in at a slightly overweight 119k, is because Book 1 is a svelte 40k. Which means there may be a thing or two in the second book that probably should have been in the first. Still, 119k is shorter than the 132k of the first draft.

2) I have been playing with covers. I know, I know, they say get your cover professionally made. It can be a difference maker in sales. Also, a bad cover reflects poorly on the whole independent author’s market, further stigmatizing the platform. I concede to that being something I will do moving forward. At the moment, however, I do my own covers. (Deep Within being the exception. And Irony Book 1’s cover was created online. I will post my personal creations of those two below this post. Um, which I don’t think are terrible at all. But, I could be kiiiiind of biased. Nah, they’re not that bad. Not as bad as some I have seen)

Where was I? Oh, yeah, playing with covers. I have decided to revamp the two previous Irony covers and go with a brand cover for all three. The only difference, of course, being Book 1, Book 2, etc, and a displayed icon telling of that book’s contents. I believe I have constructed a cover that, while not professionally pristine, will attract attention. And I am hoping that attention, along with the book’s description, will lead to sample chapter reading.

And hey, if I can’t hook people on the first few chapters, then it is not the cover, but the writing. I didn’t plan on posting them today, but apparently it is leading that way. So, without further ado, I give you my K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid) Irony series covers. As for the third installment of the series, I am chugging along, making my planned revelations and winding things down to the book’s conclusion. I am excited to be near the end, but I know there is still a’ways to go. Happy writing people. Feel free to see Contact page for calendar blurbs, and Home page progress meter for count and mood.

May 12-14 / Days 193-195 / 2224 Words

Where to begin, where to begin, where to begin? Have a lot on my mind. Don’t know if I can get it all in one post.“Liar. Your head is a barren wasteland of useless potpourri. I should know. I live there.”Maybe, but I like the smell of potpourri. Makes me feel all nature-ry and stuff.“Nature-ry, huh?”And stuff. Do you have a problem with that?“With nature? No. It is the ry and stuff where I get lost.”Good. Now, stay that way and let me do this update.

Okay, folks, thanks for being here and for riding along on the Irony 3 or Bust Novel Train with me. I appreciate your company. Now, on to the potpourri. Last update I had a cover reveal. I didn’t necessarily plan to, but I was talking about the cover and it seemed only natural to show what I was going on about. I have since made changes. Will I post those changes today? Meh, I suppose I can post the template, as I did days ago. I am still working with the fill-in textures, and colors, looking for the right fit. I have an idea in mind and will play with it in the meantime. I will post it at the bottom of this update. However, what is a cover without a book, which segues nicely to Irony 3.

Hmm, what to say about the book? Oh, you may have noticed the bloated word count for day 195. 1205 words. All I can say about that is I had to finish the scene while it was pumping blood to my brain. Usually, as is evidenced by most of my word counts being just above my goal mark, I will practically stop in the middle of a sentence when I reach 500 words. I scribble a couple of notes about where I am thinking of taking the scene, or conversation, and then close the document. A clean and easy out. What was different about day 195? I was in the middle of THE explanation of the book. You know the one I am talking about. The one where you finally find out what is going on. I was in the middle of that and just got into a flow.

And, let me tell you, I didn’t want to let go. The way I was feeling, I wanted to keep writing until rapture hit. Well, hopefully, I will keep writing until rapture hits, just not continually. Well, continually, but not … Oh, buggers, you get what I mean. Anyway, the point being, I was on a roll and felt it was important to get what was in my head out at that moment. So, I did. What I loved about it is that when I was finished, I realized it hadn’t taken significantly longer than the usual 500 takes. Mere minutes, in fact. So, yeah, that was a good writing day. Strike that. Every day I write is a good writing day. That one was just gooder.

“Gooder? Gooder? Really? I mean for real, really?”I thought you were lost.“I was, but then I heard gooder in the middle of Star Trek and the taste in my mouth went sour.”For your information, gooder is a word.“Only because it has letters in it and is pronounceable.”Let me ask you a question. Do you know what gooder means?”“We all know what gooder means, but none of us, except you, are wacked enough to use it.”Maybe, but day 195 was a gooder writing day than the others, and that is good enough for me. Happy Writing people. Feel free to see Contact page for calendar blurbs, and Home page progress meter for count and mood.

May 15 – Day 196 – 503 words

It’s that time again. Time for the Irony 3 Novel Train update. End of another writing week update, as a matter of fact. I’m afraid there isn’t much more to say than last ti--“You’re afraid? Why are you afraid? The Bible says that God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a strong mind.”That’s sound mind, by the way, and I am not afraid that way. It is just a turn of phrase.“A turn of phrase? Why would you turn a phrase?”A figure of speech, you know. It doesn’t actually mean that I am afraid, afraid.”“Then why did you say it?”I meant that I regret there isn’t much more to update than last time. I’m still on track toward The End and am wrapping things up. I see chapter 37 being completed in the next writing day, and with the start of chapter 38 comes one more conflict resolution, and then the epilogue chapter; I hope.“Then why didn’t you just say that to begin with. You humaans and your language.”I admit, the American English language can be—Wait, we ‘humaans?’“That’s right, you humaans. You are bound to drive a Ferengi mad.”

“Feren-? *sigh* You know what, I don’t even care anymore. After 28 weeks and countless updates, just live in whatever world you want. I won’t try and stop or talk sense into you anymore. You want to be a Ferengi from Star Trek? Knock yourself out.“Knock myself out? Why would I do that? Is this some kind of ritual you humaans picked up from the Klingons? Because they are the ones who bang heads all the time. You should see them around the bar.”Would that be Quark’s bar?”“Oh, so you’ve heard of it?”And I suppose you are Quark today?“Today? Pfft, you humaans. You spend too much time in the holo-suites. I am Quark every day. See the lobes?”Oh, I see them alright.“Well, since you know me, who are you?”I am out of here.“Outofhere? I don’t believe I have ever heard a humaan name like that. It is unique, I will give you that."It also has a special meaning. Want to hear it?“Sure, why not. I’m not due to count my latium for another hour or so.”It means that this loony puppy is wrapped up. Happy writing people. Feel free to see Contact page for calendar blurbs, and Home page progress meter for count and mood.

For this week’s week end jam, I give you a song from an album that I can’t tell you how many days, back when I rode an exercise bike, that I rode to it. Man, I used to put the album tape in my little boombox and sit poised on the bike, ready to pedal my troubles away. And this song was my favorite, because the riding tempo jacked up every time it came on. The song? I Know You Got Soul. The album? Paid in Full. The artists? Why, Eric B & Rakim, of course.YOU TUBE LINK